Radiator trap



June l 1926. c. A. DUNHAM RADIATOR TRAP Filed sept. 4, 1925.

Patented June 1,1926.

UNITED STATES PA oLAYToN ADUNHAM, OF GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, AssIGNon To OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA,

c. A. DI'INHAM COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF IOWA. Y

RADIATOR TRAP.

Application led September My invention relates to radiator traps of the type employing a flexible disk thermostat y for controlling the escape of the water of condensation, and has for its principal object theprovision of a new and improved form) and arrangement ofparts for connecting the valve to the disk. In devices of this type in which it is important that the valve shall work with the greatest lpossible efficiency so as ,to avoid the loss of steam from the radiator, it is of course ,essential that the valve be capable of seating promptly and accurately so as to completely close the valve opening. To this end, and in order to offset, 15. so far as possible, the bad effect of foreign matter becoming lodged between the valve 1nd its seat, I have sought. to provide a constructionl by r ason of which there shall be, a maximum o efici'ency, which construction 2Q may be strong and durable, and which shall be simple and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. l f' The preferred means by which I have accomplished -my several objects are illusl trated in the accompanying drawing and are hereinafter specically described. That .which I believe to be new and desire .to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claim.

In the drawing u Fig. 1 is acentral vertical section through a trap equipped with my improved construc-v tlon. l

Fig. 2 is a enlarged detail view, being a vertical cross section through the partsfby which the valve is mountedIupon the thermostatic disk. f

Fig. 3 -is a lar ed scale, s whlch the"\\valve is` to be connected; and

Fig. 4 i's a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing amodified form of construction.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, 10 indicates a casing l member formingthe body portion of the casing of my.improved trap, the casing being completed by means of a cap 11 secured by means O f screw threads to, the body portion 10. 4The casing is provided vith an rspective view upon an en-y owing the socket member to.

l inlet port 12- and an outlet port 13, a web 14v being interposed between ,thel inlet and outlet ports, vsuchweb being provided with a valve opening 15. A -thermostaticidisk 16 of any approved xportion 2 4, 1923. seriai No. 660,839.

type is Seured by means of a stem 1T upon the lower face of the cap 11,I the disk 16 belngipreferably in centered position fwith respect to the opening 15 in the web 14. The thermostatic member 16 is of any approved diaphragm type adapted to expand upon the application of heat thereto, being prefcra-bly provided'with a quantity of volatile liquid for causing the desired expansion, as ls, well understood inthe art. In the construction shown, the lower diaphragm is inicatgd by the numeral 18, as is shown in Dependingifrom the diaphragm 18 of the thermostatic disk 16, there is a valve 19 in the form of a plate in position opposite the valve opening 15 so as to close the opening 15 upon the -expansion of the thermostatic disk 16 under the influence of heat. improved construction here shown, the valve 19 is mounted' upon the diaphragm 18 by means. of a ball and socket joint, by which the valve plate 19 is adapted to rock vertically with respect to the diaphragm 18, but is held against vertical movement otherwise with respect to the diaphragm 18, whereby lthe valve 19 iscaused to move vertically -rwith the central portion of the diaphragm v'18. In the construction shown, 'the ball and socket joint comprises a ball 2O formed on the valve plate 19, havina snug working fit in a socket 21 formed 1n the lower face of a socket member 22 which extends through a central opening inthe diaphragm n Tlr'osofaces of the socket 21 with which the ball contacts when moved ,to operative In the position comprisev cylindrical side walls 26y and an u per conical wall 27. Thel conical keeps the ball centered in the socket, of the ball with the walls of the socket. IIfhis reduces friction, allowing movement of thevalve plate and insuring a substantially ,d also allows only line contact gt-feet t of the valve plate u on its seat'.`

e pockets 28, not occupied y the ball, provides aceswherein any foreign matter enteringt e socket may be displaced which will prevf nt binding of the parts. A collar 23 surrounds the j(lpper end of the socket member22 upon the \upper face of the diaphragm 18, the parts being, rigidly secured to ether by soldering or in any other suitabIe manner. In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the upperr end of the socket member' los 22 is riveted over the upper end of the collar 23. The head 2O of the valve 19 is pref.

erably held in position in the socket 21 by the inwardly directed edge of the socket member which ips formed of comparatively thin metal and is turned by a spinning process into position for retaining the ball in position with a working fit in the socket. In order to facilitate a close fit between thel valve plate 19 and the web 14 around the valve opening 15, the seat for the valve is made rounding, as at 24. By reason ofthe valve 19 being mounted rockingly in position, a snug seating is insured, so that it is not necessary that the contact of the valve with its seat extend over a considerable area. As will be readily understood, by rounding the seat' as above explained, the likelihood of foreign matter becoming lodged between the seat and the valve, is very materially lessened. Furthermore, the likelihood that such foreign matter shall be loosened in a short time is very materiallyA increased.

While I prefer to employ the construction and arrangement as shown in the drawing and as above described, it will be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the details of such construction, except so far as such detailed construction is specifically claimed, inasmuch as it is evident that various changes might be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of my invention. I claim A radiator trap comprising a casing having inlet and outlet ports, a valve Opening arranged in the casing between the inlet and outlet ports, there being an annular valve seat at the inlet end of the valve opening having a rounded valve-engaging surface, a hollow thermostatic disk comprising a pair of flexible diaphragms connected at their outer peripheral edges, the upper diaphragm being centrally adjustably mounted within the casing, whereb the disk is rigidly mounted opposite the valve opening with capacity for movement only toward or from the valve-seat in response to temperature changes, a socket member having a reduced portion fitting within a central openin in the lower diaphragm, a collar secured to this reduced portion within the disk, and a valve plate adapted to engage the valve seat when the disk is expanded, there being a ball member on the upper face of the plate fitting within the socket with capacity for universal movement therein, the lower edge of the socket member being inturned about the ball to prevent disengagement of the ball and socket.

CLAYTON A. DUNHAM. 

